CALL TO ACT

VA 7th Demands Actions NOT Prayers

Call Rep. Brat's offices TODAY--all three of them--to demand safe, sensible gun legislation and request that he donate all campaign donations from gun lobbies to the school or families affected in Florida. 24 mass shootings in 45 days is unacceptable. Domestic terrorism is real and a greater threat than border insecurity. (While you're at it, request legalization of DACA protected persons and their families since they are not a threat!)

Power to the polls!

This new voter registration tool makes it easier than ever to register people to vote. Simply show them your saved image (make it your phone screen image) and watch them take action! This is an especially exciting tool for teens, college students, and people on the go.

Newsletter & Calls to Act for Jan. 8-15, 2018

Here is a condensed list of ways to support PROGRESS in VA this week, including calls to act, events, recommended reading, and more. Check it out and start supporting justice and equality for all in VA's 7th District!

Happy New Year! Resolve to register and inform voters!

Happy New Year! May you and loved ones have good health and prosperity in 2018. As of January 1, 2018, we have 10 months, 4 days until our next General Election in Virginia on November 6.

May we all have the resolve to stand up for leaders and legislation that promote economic parity, access to affordable healthcare, lift up civil rights and the value of diverse people, and embraces environmental protections and reform. May we have the grit to resist legislation and leaders who are marginalizing minorities, whittling away at safety nets and protections for citizens, enshrining power in the wealthiest families in this Country, and threatening our global security by threatening and collaborating with foreign adversaries. Stay vigilant, stay woke, stay involved, and stay connected to each other.

We can each do a small part that collectively makes a large impact by committing to ensuring your relatives, friends, neighbors, and colleagues are registered to vote and aware of legislation that affect them. Get inspired at 90 for 90 (online and on Facebook). Learn to register people online via the Dept. of Elections website and hold your own voting drives. VA 7th USA will be assisting in get out the vote efforts throughout the year. Go to our homepage and "Join" to get volunteer opportunity notices via email.

Consider volunteering with New Virginia Majority or Spread the Vote to assist others in registering to vote. Spread the Vote is a unique organization that assists people in getting government IDs and empower them to vote.

CHIP, DACA & Net Neutrality

CHIP - Despite Rep. Brat & Whittman's joint statement support CHIP funding, the House of Representatives is leaving for the holidays without renewing funding for children's health insurance, meaning up to 2 million children could loss their healthcare next month. They snatched the gift of funding from children to give to their wealthy donors by passing the GOP tax plan. It's time to call Governor McAuliffe and ask him to call his colleagues in DC to renew funding for CHIP--Take action.

DACA - The children of illegal immigrants are not in the United States illegally. They are hear under a program called DACA. They seek a pathway to permanent citizenship so that they may continue to live, work, study, and thrive in the United States--the only home they've ever known. According to The Commonwealth Institute, "There are 30,000 young immigrants who were potentially eligible for DACA and call Virginia home. They currently contribute a total of $29.3 million to local and state taxes annually through sales and excise taxes, property taxes and income tax." It is time we say "thank you" by welcoming them to this Country as full citizens. Read more about the real economic impact of The Dream Act on Virginia here. Let Rep. Brat know that you expect people protected under DACA to have a path to citizenship using this resource from 5 Calls.

Net Neutrality - From Indivisible: Our free and open internet is under attack by a Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission (FCC). On December 14, 2017, the FCC voted 3-2 to remove net neutrality rules put in place under the Obama Administration just two years ago. Democratic Senator Ed Markey, joined by over a dozen other Democrats, plans to introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to stop the FCC from destroying the internet as we know it. The CRA would repeal the latest FCC action and revert regulation of the internet back to the FCC’s 2015 rules. Ask Rep. Brat to sign on to this resolution. Take action with this resource from 5 Calls.

#ENDWEALTHFARE

Is the GOP Tax Plan more Wealthfare?

The Republican-led proposed tax plan, supported by Rep. Brat, greatly reduces the corporate tax rate in hopes that trickle-down economics will yield greater investments in people and the economy. Unfortunately, these tax cuts are on the backs of 'the little guy' who is losing deductions for state income tax, medical expenses, student loan interest, relocation expenses, professional expenses, property taxes, and more. Corporations get to keep these deductions, but not the average Joe or Jill. How else will the proposed plan affect you? Learn more about the tax plan here: http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/publications/analysis-house-gop-tax-plan/full

ACT by contacting Representative Brat and share how you will be affected by the plan he supports. www.NotOnePenny.org has tools and resources to help.

Also, join fellow concerned citizens on Saturday, Dec. 9 for a Not One Penny Rally. Full details on our Events page or Facebook.

FCC VOTED TO END NET NEUTRALITY

12/14/17 UPDATE FROM THE ACLU: CONGRESS MUST STEP IN TO SAVE NET NEUTRALITY

The Federal Communications Commission, led by Trump’s hand-picked chairman, has voted to undo our hard-won net neutrality protections. This means that telecommunications companies will soon be able to dictate how we use the internet to get information, organize and take action, make purchases, and stream video. But net neutrality isn’t dead yet. Now we’re taking the fight to Congress. Pro-net neutrality members will use the Congressional Review Act in a bid to reverse this hasty and misguided FCC action. We have 60 legislative days (i.e. days when Congress is in session) to pressure Congress to act. The clock is ticking. Each of us needs to raise our voice to push our members of Congress to represent our interests and reverse the FCC’s dismantling of net neutrality. The future of our free, fair, and open internet is at stake.

We need free Internet access!

The FCC confirmed that they will vote on 12/14 to abolish the regulations that prevent internet service providers from controlling internet speeds and the websites and online services that are available to their customers.

Net neutrality allows all users to have equal access to everything on the Internet and prevents Internet Service Providers (ISPs) from essentially turning the internet into cable television.

Without net neutrality, small businesses, low-income individuals, and much of rural America would lose access to affordable, reasonably-fast internet service.